Israel and Hezbollah have fired at each other across the Lebanese border and many fear a new escalation could lead to another deadly war. Meanwhile, the U.S. has voiced concern about the capacity of Israel’s Iron Dome's defense system to stop Hezbollah's many precision missiles.

Jerusalem

There are fears that a larger war could break out between Israel and Hezbollah.

Tensions at Israel-Lebanon border

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in daily cross-border fire along the Lebanese border, raising concerns about the potential for a new, deadly escalation. Footage from Hezbollah, filmed with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), shows residential homes and sensitive sites in Haifa, Israel's largest northern city and port. In response, Israel has released footage of its forces targeting Hezbollah positions.

Diplomatic efforts by global powers aim to pacify the situation and avoid a regional escalation. Israel's defense minister has asserted the nation's military readiness, but U.S. officials have expressed concerns about the capacity of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. The U.S. warns that the system may be overwhelmed by Hezbollah’s arsenal of Iranian precision-guided missiles and drones.

A senior U.S. administration official told CNN that some Iron Dome batteries could fail against the sheer volume of missiles. Washington is advocating for an agreement that would establish ceasefires in both Gaza and on the Lebanese border.



Could Israel's Iron Dome cope with Hezbollah attacks?

There has been daily cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, like here in Odaise, Lebanon. Intense pressure and many threats. These images showing residential homes and sensitive sites in Haifa, the largest city and port in the north of Israel, were filmed by Hezbollah with at least one UAV. Meanwhile, Israel released more footage of its forces hitting Hezbollah targets. World powers have tried to settle the unrest through diplomacy to avert an all-out war and a regional escalation. After Israel's defense minister said the army is achieving readiness, U.S. officials warned Israel's Iron Dome air defense system may not be able to cope with Hezbollah's missiles and drones. The armed group has stockpiled large numbers of Iranian precision-guided missiles and munitions. This means a lot of hits. Iron Dome will not be able to cover everything. We may be cut off electricity, cut off internet. A senior U.S. administration official has told CNN they assess that at least some Iron Dome batteries will be overwhelmed. Washington says it's pushing an agreement that would bring both a ceasefire in Gaza and on the Lebanese border.

Israeli forces pressed their incursion deeper into two northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip on Friday (June 28), and Palestinian health officials said tank shelling in Rafah killed at least 11 people.

Israel-Gaza War

Israeli forces push deeper into southern, northern Gaza

European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. At a summit in Brussels, the bloc's 27 national leaders also picked former Portuguese premier Antonio Costa as the future chair of their European Council meetings.

Brussels

E.U. leaders pick von der Leyen for second term as Commission chief

The US Supreme Court cleared the way for women experiencing medical emergencies to obtain abortions in Idaho, but the ruling's narrow scope meant it was a muted victory for reproductive rights activists. The decision comes two years after the conservative-majority bench dismantled the nationwide right to terminate a pregnancy, making it a pivotal issue in November's presidential election.

Idaho

U.S. Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho

President Joe Biden delivered a shaky, halting performance while his Republican rival Donald Trump battered him with a series of often false attacks at their debate, as the two oldest presidential candidates ever exchanged personal insults ahead of the November election.

Washington

U.S. Presidential Election

Biden struggles, Trump spouts falsehoods in debate

Social media platform bosses have been grilled by a Senate Committee over its roles and responsibilities to Australian society. Facebook defended its decision to stop sharing mainstream media news.

Canberra

Facebook defends ending news deals

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a security agreement inked between Kyiv and the European Union would advance "peace and prosperity" across the continent.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine, E.U. sign five year security agreement

Palestinian refugees in the West Bank city of Jenin are bracing for more Israeli raids days after Israeli soldiers strapped an injured Palestinian to the hood of a military vehicle, triggering international anger. Israel called the man a suspected militant, but also said its soldiers violated protocol.

Palestinians in Jenin refugee camp brace for more IDF raids

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is confident her party will win an absolute majority in parliament, form a government and impose limits on what President Emmanuel Macron can do to support Ukraine, she said days before voting starts.

Paris

France's Le Pen expects clear far-right win and power over Macron

Julian Assange spent his first night in 14 years as a free man back at home in Australia as the conservative opposition on Thursday cautioned the government against hailing the WikiLeaks founder as a hero.

Julian Assange freed

Assange not 'a hero', says Opposition

Bolivia's army chief was arrested after deploying soldiers and tanks to government buildings, which President Luis Arce called an attempted coup. Surrounded by soldiers and tanks, the dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga claimed the armed forces aimed to restructure democracy.

Sucre

Bolivian army chief arrested for alleged coup

Kenyan police fired teargas at dozens of protesters as demonstrations continued across the country on Thursday (June 27), albeit at a smaller scale than before Kenyan President William Ruto promised to scrap a controversial finance bill.

Nairobi

Kenya protests continue after president's tax climbdown

Bolivian armed forces pulled back from the presidential palace in La Paz and a general was arrested after President Luis Arce slammed a "coup" attempt against the government and called for international support.

La Paz

Bolivia coup fails, top general arrested

The United States has stressed that its temporary aid pier in Gaza was not used in the Israeli captive rescue operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that killed more than 270 people. The Pentagon said that reports linking the pier to Saturday’s Israeli assault that resulted in the freeing of four captives held by Hamas are “inaccurate”.

Sderot

U.S. investigates reasons behind Gaza pier failure

British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak take part in BBC’s Prime Ministerial Debate, in Nottingham, Britain.

Nottingham

Sunak and Starmer clash in final UK TV debate

American journalist Evan Gershkovich's secret trial on charges of espionage began Wednesday (June 26) in the eastern Russian city of Yekaterinburg, where he was initially arrested 15 months ago. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom's glass cage before the closed trial began with his head shaved.

Yekaterinburg

Secret Russian trial begins for U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich

Kenya's president said he would withdraw planned tax rises, bowing to pressure from protesters who had stormed parliament, launched demonstrations across the country and threatened more action this week. Medics said violent clashes between police and protesters had left at least 23 people dead across the country and scores wounded.

'I concede,' says Kenya’s Ruto as he backs down on tax hikes

Problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule have upended the original plans for the return of its two astronauts to Earth as teams look at last-minute fixes and tests for the mission that is crucial to the future of Boeing's space division.

Florida

Astronauts stuck aboard ISS as Starliner issues delay return

NATO has selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO's next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States' future attitude to the transatlantic alliance. So, what does his appointment mean for NATO?

NATO appoints Dutch PM Rutte as next chief

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrived in Canberra on Wednesday (June 26) after a hearing on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan. He pleaded guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that allowed him to head straight home to Australia.

Assange arrives in Australia after guilty plea

Some Indians struggle to cope as Delhi suffers its worse heatwave in nearly 75 years. Hundreds have died. Hospitals are providing special services to cool people down and save their lives.

New Delhi

Hundreds die in Delhi heatwave

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday said it had issued arrest warrants for Russia's top army chief and ex-defense minister over strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure that constituted alleged war crimes.

The Hague

ICC issues arrest warrants for two top Russian officials

Hundreds gathered at the East Hotel in Canberra to celebrate Julian Assange's release, celebrating what they refer to as his 'journalistic integrity' and 'exposure of war crimes'. Not everyone is happy, with some saying he put the lives of Australian defence personnel at risk.

Hundreds gather to show support for Julian Assange's release

Julian Assange is free and back on home soil in Australia after a 14-year battle. It is unknown if he will return to WikiLeaks; his wife Stella Assange says it will take time for him to heal from the ordeal and come to terms with his freedom. The Prime Minister was on the phone with him as soon as he landed.

Julian Assange lands in Australia, speaks to PM

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walked free from a court on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan after pleading guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that allowed him to head straight home to Australia.

Saipan

Julian Assange freed after U.S. guilty plea

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released after signing a plea deal with the US in Saipan. He is due to arrive in Australia soon to spend time with his wife and family for the first time in over a decade.

Julian Assange freed by U.S. court after plea deal

The Emperor and Empress of Japan are in the UK on a state visit. It was supposed to happen in 2020, but was delayed by the Covid pandemic. The two countries are currently enjoying the closest relationship they’ve had in decades.

London

U.K.'s King Charles welcomes Japan's Emperor for state visit

A secret trial is set to begin in Russia for American Evan Gershkovich. The Wall Street Journal reporter faces espionage charges and potentially 20 years in a Russian prison.

Moscow

Trial set to begin in Russia for U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich

Kenya is heading a U.N.-backed international force tasked with containing the gangs that control most of Port-au-Prince. The deployment faces a legal challenge in Kenya, but President William Ruto's government has gone ahead, with backing from the United States.

Port-au-Prince

First group of security personnel from Kenya arrives in Haiti

Julian Assange is expected to plead guilty to one charge of conspiring to obtain and distribute classified information in a U.S. courtroom in the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday. Assange's release from the U.K. ends Washington's long-running efforts to prosecute the Wikileaks founder for revealing government secrets.

Julian Assange lands in U.S. Mariana Islands to formalize plea deal

A Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-6 has made history by returning with soil and rock samples from the side of the moon that's never seen from Earth. The mission increases Beijing's rivalry with the U.S. to dominate space and its resources. China aims to put a person on the moon before 2030.

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